BPA plastics exposure in pregnancy linked with insulin resistance

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a compound used commonly in plastics and epoxy resins used for drinks bottles and food cans. It is also a compound that has been associated with a number of different health risks such as obesity, insulin resistance and heart disease.

Whilst significant evidence of association has been found, it is much harder for research to prove cause. The latest research looked specifically at women in their third trimester of pregnancy. Levels of BPA in the blood of the women was measured and the women were divided into two groups; those with higher blood levels of BPA and those with lower levels.

In addition, the researchers also collected blood samples from the umbilical cords after the babies were born to assess signs of oxidative stress in the babies. Oxidative stress is linked with the development of long term health conditions such as insulin resistance and diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia.

The results showed that the mothers with higher levels of BPA in their blood also had stronger signs of oxidative stress. In addition the researchers carried out research on sheep, rats and mice. The animal research also showed that a higher amount of BPA in the diet was linked to greater signs of oxidative stress.

This research adds to the growing evidence that higher levels of BPA plastics in the diet may lead to long term health problems. A significant problem that faces us is that BPA exposure in diets is so very commonplace with so much food packaging relying upon plastic or the resins inside of cans.

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Insulin resistance is a condition that occurs when the body produces insulin, but it is not used efficiently. When insulin levels become too high over a prolonged period of time, the body’s sensitivity to insulin becomes reduced.

New research suggests that the development of type 1 diabetes could start as early as within the womb. The researchers, led by Prof Zvi Laron of Tel Aviv University’s Sackler Faculty of Medicine, carried out blood tests on 107 pregnant women without diabetes to look for evidence of islet cell autoantibodies